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The Forgotten Queen #1-4
The Forgotten Queen
An immortal, so-called "witch" who can infect those around her with a thirst to kill—a War-Monger—returns to wreak havoc once again. From rising star Tini Howard (Assassinistas) and powerhouse artist Amilcar Pinna (Generation X) comes a brand-new saga of honor, love, and savagery that’s centuries in the making!
Collecting the complete THE FORGOTTEN QUEEN limited series, #1–4.
Collecting the complete THE FORGOTTEN QUEEN limited series, #1–4.
112 pages, Paperback
First published August 14, 2019
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73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 2, 2019
Promising work, with something that look dark and when you started to read it, it was all colorful and bright... the illustrations didn't reflect the story at all and that was a big failed. The story itself isn't bad but nothing original to make it worth the time. Nope!
August 24, 2019
This is the rare Valiant book that I've felt let down by. It was ultimately kind of boring. This is basically a primer for a new character in the Valiant universe. She is an immortal who can inspire bloodlust in others. The big "revelation" was not in the least bit shocking given that she's an immortal. The Eternal Warrior makes a quick couple of appearances during flashbacks but they were nothing of note.
The art in this was definitely not up to par with other Valiant books. Amilcar Pinna's art is terrible. He's been around too long to still have the issues he has with facial features. Eyes don't match up. Side profiles are awful. This looked like tryout art to be honest.
Received a review copy from Valiant and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
The art in this was definitely not up to par with other Valiant books. Amilcar Pinna's art is terrible. He's been around too long to still have the issues he has with facial features. Eyes don't match up. Side profiles are awful. This looked like tryout art to be honest.
Received a review copy from Valiant and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
August 23, 2019
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley
There were a few slower parts here but overall I really enjoyed this! I honestly could have done without a lot of the present day stuff, but I guess they wanted to set up a possible sequel and I would definitely be interested if they wrote more. I really liked the flashback scenes and the historical characters that they chose to use. Though the reveal at the end was a bit weird but I guess it all works out and the art was absolutely gorgeous throughout. Also I liked the variety of awesome female characters throughout!
There were a few slower parts here but overall I really enjoyed this! I honestly could have done without a lot of the present day stuff, but I guess they wanted to set up a possible sequel and I would definitely be interested if they wrote more. I really liked the flashback scenes and the historical characters that they chose to use. Though the reveal at the end was a bit weird but I guess it all works out and the art was absolutely gorgeous throughout. Also I liked the variety of awesome female characters throughout!
August 12, 2019
Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Forgotten Queen is about a Valiant character that I knew nothing about going in. I like what was done to show her power and, at least somewhat, where it came from. It did a nice job of mixing the present with her past, which goes through a few different eras. This story serves as a primer for the character and seems to lay the groundwork for future stories.
The Forgotten Queen is about a Valiant character that I knew nothing about going in. I like what was done to show her power and, at least somewhat, where it came from. It did a nice job of mixing the present with her past, which goes through a few different eras. This story serves as a primer for the character and seems to lay the groundwork for future stories.
February 28, 2021
This wasn't quite up to the usual high Valiant standards. It's not terrible as the art is good and the story does serve a purpose, but I think this story could have been told in a one shot or either worked into other Valiant titles other than being a limited series.
The main character could end up being an important one in the Valiant Universe but this story just felt like an odd introduction. Plus the exact origin of the character is a little muddy. We do get a Vlad Tepes appearance though, which counts for something.
Overall this wasn't bad, just wasn't as good as what I've come to expect from Valiant.
The main character could end up being an important one in the Valiant Universe but this story just felt like an odd introduction. Plus the exact origin of the character is a little muddy. We do get a Vlad Tepes appearance though, which counts for something.
Overall this wasn't bad, just wasn't as good as what I've come to expect from Valiant.
October 24, 2023
Un rollazo. Los personajes son sosos y el argumento está requetevisto. Encima dejan un final que no cierra nada para poder enlazar con otras franquicias.
September 5, 2019
The Forgotten Queen digs into the backstory of the War Monger, a character from Unity who I didn't expect to see again, if we're being honest.
Told as a twin narrative in the past and the present, the story of Vexana, the War Monger, is pretty damn sad. She struggles to connect with people on anything more than a superficial level, and that tarnishes all of her interactions throughout the years until one, which changes her forever. She's not that complex until she is, and the final revelation/reveal is pretty clever - I certainly didn't expect it.
I could have done without the present day storyline though, if we're being honest. It doesn't really work as a framing device, and is only there to deliver the final page cliffhanger (?) for the last issue, so I think the page space could have been better devoted to the past - I especially liked how Vexana was tied into the legend of Vlad Tepes, and could have done with another one or two of these kinds of stories instead.
On art is Amilcar Pinna, who isn't really a favourite of mine, but his work here is decent enough for the most part. His pencils have the same sheen as Salvador Larroca's lightboxing, which actually looks pretty nice - but some of his faces are downright disturbing, which can take you out of a panel.
The Forgotten Queen has a lot of potential, and given where we leave the character, I'd like to see her revisited again so we can iron out the few problems we had here and really get to the meat of things.
Told as a twin narrative in the past and the present, the story of Vexana, the War Monger, is pretty damn sad. She struggles to connect with people on anything more than a superficial level, and that tarnishes all of her interactions throughout the years until one, which changes her forever. She's not that complex until she is, and the final revelation/reveal is pretty clever - I certainly didn't expect it.
I could have done without the present day storyline though, if we're being honest. It doesn't really work as a framing device, and is only there to deliver the final page cliffhanger (?) for the last issue, so I think the page space could have been better devoted to the past - I especially liked how Vexana was tied into the legend of Vlad Tepes, and could have done with another one or two of these kinds of stories instead.
On art is Amilcar Pinna, who isn't really a favourite of mine, but his work here is decent enough for the most part. His pencils have the same sheen as Salvador Larroca's lightboxing, which actually looks pretty nice - but some of his faces are downright disturbing, which can take you out of a panel.
The Forgotten Queen has a lot of potential, and given where we leave the character, I'd like to see her revisited again so we can iron out the few problems we had here and really get to the meat of things.
July 28, 2019
My Rating : 2
Thank you so much Edelweiss for the review copy. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
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The first thing that captured my attention was the cover art. I mean, just look at it and tell me it is not the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?! And especially with the storyline mentioned along with it, I was so intrigued to read what this story is going to bring to life.
.
As we have already established, First, the artwork in this novel was extremely detailed, amazing and it gave a different experience altogether. Every character had their own personality in the way they were drawn, and it just made the whole reading experience so much better. Second, it was a really short book and I was skeptical about how the author can include so many history and details and make the appropriate connection within the given pages. From the blurb, you figure out that this had dual time perspective and you have a vague idea of what you can expect.
.
Now with that being said, we will come to the actual storyline and the characters. We solely focus on one character who is the long forgotten/mysterious/blood thirsty queen who is an immortal (And no we don't get to know why or how when you start reading). The way the dual time perspectives are introduced will confuse you. I spent 10 minutes re-reading a lot of pages just to understand what was happening. It starts out really smoothly, and gives you introduction to what we can expect. But after half the book is done, you skip years together and just get an update on the happenings. The inconsistency with that pacing threw me off balance.
.
Now, we should definitely talk about the 'plot twist' they introduce at the end. There is nothing backing up the theory but only the ending, the sad backstory that follows certain dead queen is just not strong enough to support the behaviour that follows it, and our main character just has no purpose except to create mayhem and let people kill each other. Even at the ending, you give a huge plot twist, and then just like that it ends! It's not a cliffhanger but a half finished ending. Overall, the only thing I loved about this book was the artwork that was done.
Thank you so much Edelweiss for the review copy. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
.
The first thing that captured my attention was the cover art. I mean, just look at it and tell me it is not the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?! And especially with the storyline mentioned along with it, I was so intrigued to read what this story is going to bring to life.
.
As we have already established, First, the artwork in this novel was extremely detailed, amazing and it gave a different experience altogether. Every character had their own personality in the way they were drawn, and it just made the whole reading experience so much better. Second, it was a really short book and I was skeptical about how the author can include so many history and details and make the appropriate connection within the given pages. From the blurb, you figure out that this had dual time perspective and you have a vague idea of what you can expect.
.
Now with that being said, we will come to the actual storyline and the characters. We solely focus on one character who is the long forgotten/mysterious/blood thirsty queen who is an immortal (And no we don't get to know why or how when you start reading). The way the dual time perspectives are introduced will confuse you. I spent 10 minutes re-reading a lot of pages just to understand what was happening. It starts out really smoothly, and gives you introduction to what we can expect. But after half the book is done, you skip years together and just get an update on the happenings. The inconsistency with that pacing threw me off balance.
.
Now, we should definitely talk about the 'plot twist' they introduce at the end. There is nothing backing up the theory but only the ending, the sad backstory that follows certain dead queen is just not strong enough to support the behaviour that follows it, and our main character just has no purpose except to create mayhem and let people kill each other. Even at the ending, you give a huge plot twist, and then just like that it ends! It's not a cliffhanger but a half finished ending. Overall, the only thing I loved about this book was the artwork that was done.
October 2, 2020
"Vexana" is an immortal woman with the power to inspire bloodlust in others, making them fight each other. She goes throughout the centuries making armies fight each other, propping up empires and stoking the fires underneath them that cause said empires to eventually crumble. This should be awesome, it's a neat idea and I'm always down for some stories about immortal warrior women. Unfortunately this never delivers on it. It's all told through a mix of a modern day researcher trying to find where Vexana has been hiding all these years, and a flashback to a millenia ago as she deals with the Khans and other rulers. The present-day stuff is a big exposition dump driven by a mystery with no stakes, and while the flashback stuff is better it isn't enough action or drama to be exciting. This book reads like a wikipedia entry for the character rather than a proper introduction. Maybe if I were more invested in the Valiant universe I would care more about some of the reveals that I assume I'm supposed to be excited for, but seeing as this is maybe my third ever Valiant trade it just fell short.
July 14, 2019
I really enjoyed this comic, especially the blending of different historical figures from the past to show the backstory of the protagonist/antagonist.
I also liked the strong female characters, and the switching of the story setting, from the present to the past.
The air of mystery surrounding the titular character is intriguing, making one want to know more about where she came from, and how she acquired her mystical powers and immortality. These questions are answered towards the end of the story. However, even more questions remain.
Looking forward to reading the next installment.
I also liked the strong female characters, and the switching of the story setting, from the present to the past.
The air of mystery surrounding the titular character is intriguing, making one want to know more about where she came from, and how she acquired her mystical powers and immortality. These questions are answered towards the end of the story. However, even more questions remain.
Looking forward to reading the next installment.
December 25, 2021
I was drawn to read this story this week (Christmas week of 2021) and overall, it's not a bad story. The story and the art both ok. Panels with both eyes of any character are hypnotic and strange. If you do not know the Valiant Universe or wish to get involved in the stories of said Universe, then I'd skip this book as, like another reviewer stated, this is nothing but a character primer for Valiant and after reading it, I'd have to agree.
The story is about an immortal woman, Vexana the War Monger and as the series goes on, the story gets more confusing and the writer tries to shove the enough of Vexana's history into flashbacks just to show that she's had interactions with Valiant characters and it's not telling a complete story.
Imagine watching an episode or two of the 1990s show Highlander. With that show it had a modern storyline, flashbacks to something or someone that had something to do with the plot even if only vaguely, then the modern storyline either concluded or set up the next plot in the overall story. As a mini-series, I would expect this to be more of a self-contained story but it's not.
Here, the main characters are Vexana the War Monger and a female scientist. Vexana's power is to cause people's bloodlust to kill which she uses throughout the centuries however, she disappeared 700 years ago. The modern story is about a female scientist trying to find Vexana which the search is a success. However, in every issue, the scientist and to a lesser extent Vexana are truly nothing but exposition dumps explaining either the relics that are found (Vexana's armor), or about Vexana and other immortals, or Vexana's backstory, origin, and family that honestly doesn't go anywhere till the very last page of the series, which then ends on a cliffhanger.
The entire mini-series is really nothing but a dump of data, to integrate Vexana into Valiant's comic universe. There are some high points to Vexana's life, some historical figures that are guest stars as well as some Easter eggs and name drops to actual historical figures. Overall, a decent story for those that like this kind of thing or are fans of Valiant. If you have never read Valiant, then this will be confusing in sections and parts. I'd skip and find an easier entry point into this universe.
The story is about an immortal woman, Vexana the War Monger and as the series goes on, the story gets more confusing and the writer tries to shove the enough of Vexana's history into flashbacks just to show that she's had interactions with Valiant characters and it's not telling a complete story.
Imagine watching an episode or two of the 1990s show Highlander. With that show it had a modern storyline, flashbacks to something or someone that had something to do with the plot even if only vaguely, then the modern storyline either concluded or set up the next plot in the overall story. As a mini-series, I would expect this to be more of a self-contained story but it's not.
Here, the main characters are Vexana the War Monger and a female scientist. Vexana's power is to cause people's bloodlust to kill which she uses throughout the centuries however, she disappeared 700 years ago. The modern story is about a female scientist trying to find Vexana which the search is a success. However, in every issue, the scientist and to a lesser extent Vexana are truly nothing but exposition dumps explaining either the relics that are found (Vexana's armor), or about Vexana and other immortals, or Vexana's backstory, origin, and family that honestly doesn't go anywhere till the very last page of the series, which then ends on a cliffhanger.
The entire mini-series is really nothing but a dump of data, to integrate Vexana into Valiant's comic universe. There are some high points to Vexana's life, some historical figures that are guest stars as well as some Easter eggs and name drops to actual historical figures. Overall, a decent story for those that like this kind of thing or are fans of Valiant. If you have never read Valiant, then this will be confusing in sections and parts. I'd skip and find an easier entry point into this universe.
July 11, 2019
Hard-hitting images and fun storyline make for an enjoyable graphic novel in The Forgotten Queen. A visual treat. This is a book that is sure to please readers who enjoy fantasty, adventure, and graphic novels. An entertaining and energetic reading experience, and a fine example of what this publisher produces.
August 11, 2019
I received a copy of The Forgotten Queen through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Forgotten Queen is a series that traverses across time itself, telling the tale of one woman and all of the damage she’s caused during her time on earth. She goes by many names, but one of the best known is probably War-Monger.
This graphic novel is a little bit of a blend. It has elements of the four horsemen of the apocalypse (war). It also is a tale told through time, and references several different historical figures, events, and myths.
The Forgotten Queen is a graphic novel with an enormous amount of potential. That’s why I wanted to read and review it, truth be told. I was immediately captivated by both the concept and the artwork.
I honestly think that the reception to The Forgotten Queen is going to depend entirely on one’s preference for a few things. For example, I don’t typically love it when real historical figures are pulled into fantasy stories. But others might like that.
Personally, I enjoyed the decision to have the story told through two perspectives. One covered past events, while the other focused on the present. As mentioned above though, this may be something that other people enjoy a bit less.
War’s tale was an interesting one, on the whole. It was a little heavy handed at times, but interesting nonetheless. I would have liked it if they had explained how the two timelines (past and present) ended up together. But perhaps the next volume will handle that.
The present timeline was a bit more confusing. Mainly because it was lacking an explanation for how War came to be where she was. It felt like they were leading up to explain that, but then just never got around to it?
As for the artwork, that absolutely held up to my expectations. It handled the more graphic scenes in a way I appreciated – they weren’t overly graphic, but they also didn’t shy away from what needed to be shown. It’s a tough balance to find and maintain.
I’ll be curious to see if another volume of this story comes out. And if so, what it’ll focus on. Will it tell us more about War, or will it focus on one of her brothers?
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The Forgotten Queen is a series that traverses across time itself, telling the tale of one woman and all of the damage she’s caused during her time on earth. She goes by many names, but one of the best known is probably War-Monger.
This graphic novel is a little bit of a blend. It has elements of the four horsemen of the apocalypse (war). It also is a tale told through time, and references several different historical figures, events, and myths.
The Forgotten Queen is a graphic novel with an enormous amount of potential. That’s why I wanted to read and review it, truth be told. I was immediately captivated by both the concept and the artwork.
I honestly think that the reception to The Forgotten Queen is going to depend entirely on one’s preference for a few things. For example, I don’t typically love it when real historical figures are pulled into fantasy stories. But others might like that.
Personally, I enjoyed the decision to have the story told through two perspectives. One covered past events, while the other focused on the present. As mentioned above though, this may be something that other people enjoy a bit less.
War’s tale was an interesting one, on the whole. It was a little heavy handed at times, but interesting nonetheless. I would have liked it if they had explained how the two timelines (past and present) ended up together. But perhaps the next volume will handle that.
The present timeline was a bit more confusing. Mainly because it was lacking an explanation for how War came to be where she was. It felt like they were leading up to explain that, but then just never got around to it?
As for the artwork, that absolutely held up to my expectations. It handled the more graphic scenes in a way I appreciated – they weren’t overly graphic, but they also didn’t shy away from what needed to be shown. It’s a tough balance to find and maintain.
I’ll be curious to see if another volume of this story comes out. And if so, what it’ll focus on. Will it tell us more about War, or will it focus on one of her brothers?
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
July 19, 2019
O.K., At Least Now I Get It
So, our heroine, Vexana, is an immortal who can incite blood lust in any person she encounters. She's pissed off in a general way, careless, and just sort of randomly psychotic. As I followed her through the four issues collected in this Volume I wondered why I should care. We start with her adventures with Genghis Khan, and time skip along with a few other violence prone figures from the past. Here in the present some shadowy group is trying to find her so they can, like, convince her to do violent stuff for them.
MAJOR, MAJOR SPOILER and BIG REVEAL. In the final few pages we finally get the real backstory. It's done in an odd, flat, monologuing fashion in which a member of the shadowy group tells Vexana what her history is. Turns out that Vexana is the little sister of the three Anni-Padda brothers - Aram, Gilad, and Ivar. These three brothers are central to the Valiant Universe, and are known as Armstrong, (half of the adventure team of Archer & Armstrong), the Eternal Warrior, and the Timewalker. They were transformed into immortals by "The Boon", ( creepy otherworldly artifact), and it turns out that so was Vexana.
So I'm torn. I like these three guys, and I think Archer & Armstrong are a complete hoot. It would be great to give the boys a little sister to round out the family. But. After four issues Vexana is still just a two-dimensional psycho, (an unrequited insta-love episode in her backstory didn't add the depth the writer was probably aiming for), and it isn't clear where the story will go from here. That said, in the final panel Vexana drops in on Armstrong. How she and Armstrong, a drunken immortal hedonist with a taste for writing poetry and cracking skulls, will get along is a question I'd like to see answered. So I guess this goes into the time-will-tell category.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
So, our heroine, Vexana, is an immortal who can incite blood lust in any person she encounters. She's pissed off in a general way, careless, and just sort of randomly psychotic. As I followed her through the four issues collected in this Volume I wondered why I should care. We start with her adventures with Genghis Khan, and time skip along with a few other violence prone figures from the past. Here in the present some shadowy group is trying to find her so they can, like, convince her to do violent stuff for them.
MAJOR, MAJOR SPOILER and BIG REVEAL. In the final few pages we finally get the real backstory. It's done in an odd, flat, monologuing fashion in which a member of the shadowy group tells Vexana what her history is. Turns out that Vexana is the little sister of the three Anni-Padda brothers - Aram, Gilad, and Ivar. These three brothers are central to the Valiant Universe, and are known as Armstrong, (half of the adventure team of Archer & Armstrong), the Eternal Warrior, and the Timewalker. They were transformed into immortals by "The Boon", ( creepy otherworldly artifact), and it turns out that so was Vexana.
So I'm torn. I like these three guys, and I think Archer & Armstrong are a complete hoot. It would be great to give the boys a little sister to round out the family. But. After four issues Vexana is still just a two-dimensional psycho, (an unrequited insta-love episode in her backstory didn't add the depth the writer was probably aiming for), and it isn't clear where the story will go from here. That said, in the final panel Vexana drops in on Armstrong. How she and Armstrong, a drunken immortal hedonist with a taste for writing poetry and cracking skulls, will get along is a question I'd like to see answered. So I guess this goes into the time-will-tell category.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
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July 21, 2019I've only ever really liked Valiant's more comedy books, but Tini Howard's Assassinistas, and her forthcoming Death's Head gig, were enough to get me past that wariness and check this out. Alas, she seems to be held back by that same indefinable mire of Valiant-ness, meaning a potentially promising story about an ancient embodiment of discord – think the Good Omens take on War, or an inverted Wonder Woman – spends too much of its time instead feeling like a typically cheap and unremarkable Asylum film – unconvincing scientists uttering unlikely lines on questionable research trips, disasters which could largely be filmed by shaking the camera, that sort of thing. The flashbacks to the undying Vexana's earlier life are more promising, especially once she meets a forgotten female heir to Genghis Khan, and embarks on an affair with her – "Immortals are like no one else. You can time their breakups by world wars. Empires rise and fall by their lusts. Almost nothing gets through to them, so when something does...maps get rewritten. Entire people are wiped out. Bloodlines just stop." But even here, the writing is let down by the rather characterless house style of the art. Then too, the obligatory reminder of a shared universe intrudes, and appearances by another Valiant immortal (and not even the fun one), and his buddies of the era, lead to an awkward interruption, or at least it initially seems like an interruption but no, turns out the whole thing is being derailed into an unconvincing retcon of other characters entirely. Given that even Valiant's fans now seem to be losing patience with the direction the publisher has taken under its new owners, one can but hope that Howard's career trajectory will see her firmly ensconced in more fitting jobs elsewhere before too long.
(Edelweiss ARC)
(Edelweiss ARC)
July 31, 2025
In the present, tragedy strikes a research vessel performing dives in search of artifacts. Erik the head diver of the vessel Lohengrin is killed during a dive. The research patron and archeologist Sarnai shows her true colors when she dismisses Erik's death and dives after a Mongolian armor herself. In the past, Vexana demonstrates she has the ability to trigger conflict between people. How many powerful people were swayed by her power?
March 15, 2020
This was better than I expected tbh, the title cover didn't speak upon the gory queer depths from which this story would emerge. I thought it would be a Lara croft knockoff and it was so much more. I really enjoyed the queer main characters style and their vicious attitude expressed in supreme blood lust. I feel like the cover lost me a little, like.. there is no battle ax like that in the four collected issues, but I will recognize that this happens in collaborative work especially when it comes to cover art and gallery creations. I really appreciated the touch of extra included in this printing, every extra included detail is a really fun bonus.
I would read the next volume of this title but i feel the need to make it clear that i have a couple issues with the bland creative streak in this work. I feel like there is magic lost when entire issues are made up of only blocks and squares and rectangles. Not a single page layout impressed me artistically or creatively although i sensed plenty of chances, maybe the creator wanted to use this mode of expression intentionally? But to what point? Also, all the dude characters blend in together, this is one of my repeated complaints against graphic novels portrayal of background characters. All the white dudes look the same and it feels unintentional, as if there just was not enough intent put into creating unique content.
The book was hot and has a great story building. The main character is extremely powerful and mysterious and I would totally recommend this title to queer folks.
I would read the next volume of this title but i feel the need to make it clear that i have a couple issues with the bland creative streak in this work. I feel like there is magic lost when entire issues are made up of only blocks and squares and rectangles. Not a single page layout impressed me artistically or creatively although i sensed plenty of chances, maybe the creator wanted to use this mode of expression intentionally? But to what point? Also, all the dude characters blend in together, this is one of my repeated complaints against graphic novels portrayal of background characters. All the white dudes look the same and it feels unintentional, as if there just was not enough intent put into creating unique content.
The book was hot and has a great story building. The main character is extremely powerful and mysterious and I would totally recommend this title to queer folks.
April 26, 2020
Because of a library sticker on the cover, I didn't realize this book was part of the Valiant Universe when I picked it up. But I still tried reading it, hoping it would be aimed at a more general audience like the Faith books, but it turned out to be hip deep in the continuity of the Anni-Padda brothers (Eternal Warrior, Timewalker, and Armstrong), and I've never really read any of their titles in any incarnation.
This is basically a story about a grouchy immortal woman who swears a lot in @#$ symbols, which really makes her look pretty silly. Also, she inspires bloodlust in others so they go berserk on their enemies or turn against themselves, resulting in plenty of gore. Over the centuries she mixes herself up with Genghis Khan and one of his descendants, Marco Polo, and Vlad Tepes (Dracula).
Unfortunately, the character and everyone around her is unlikeable and the storytelling is a scattershot, choppy, hard-to-follow mess. This is the third sup-par book I've read by Tini Howard (see: Rick and Morty: Pocket Like You Stole It and Assassinistas), so I'm thinking I need to start remembering her name so I can start avoiding her work in the future.
Art's okay though.
This is basically a story about a grouchy immortal woman who swears a lot in @#$ symbols, which really makes her look pretty silly. Also, she inspires bloodlust in others so they go berserk on their enemies or turn against themselves, resulting in plenty of gore. Over the centuries she mixes herself up with Genghis Khan and one of his descendants, Marco Polo, and Vlad Tepes (Dracula).
Unfortunately, the character and everyone around her is unlikeable and the storytelling is a scattershot, choppy, hard-to-follow mess. This is the third sup-par book I've read by Tini Howard (see: Rick and Morty: Pocket Like You Stole It and Assassinistas), so I'm thinking I need to start remembering her name so I can start avoiding her work in the future.
Art's okay though.
July 5, 2019
I requested an ARC of this TPB because firstly, it’s about a pissed off lady who wreaks havoc wherever she goes, and secondly, the cover art really stood out from the others made available to me.
The TPB only consists of the first four issues which gives you just under a 100 pages of great illustrations to read through. Unbeknownst to me is that a similar story published by Valiant Comics called “UNITY” is related to this one – you might want to give that a try as well before you start with this series to get some background info on who Unity is.
Story-wise, I found The Forgotten Queen a real thrill to read. The characters were albeit two-dimensional but then again this is about immortals who kick ass everywhere they go, blood, guts, and the screams of the dying always accompanying them. Tini Howard’s writing is on par with any title you’d expect from a DC/Marvel comic, and Amilcar Pinna’s drawings really paint the scenery with vibrant colors, detail, and shading – adding more weight to the story that you’ll actually want to keep reading.
I also doubt anyone could resist not to take a snapshot of the cover image of our protagonist expertly drawn by David Aja.
Hopefully this series expands quite a bit to explain why the immortals are still holding grudges against each other and if the scientific/research element will still maintain a presence of sort.
The TPB only consists of the first four issues which gives you just under a 100 pages of great illustrations to read through. Unbeknownst to me is that a similar story published by Valiant Comics called “UNITY” is related to this one – you might want to give that a try as well before you start with this series to get some background info on who Unity is.
Story-wise, I found The Forgotten Queen a real thrill to read. The characters were albeit two-dimensional but then again this is about immortals who kick ass everywhere they go, blood, guts, and the screams of the dying always accompanying them. Tini Howard’s writing is on par with any title you’d expect from a DC/Marvel comic, and Amilcar Pinna’s drawings really paint the scenery with vibrant colors, detail, and shading – adding more weight to the story that you’ll actually want to keep reading.
I also doubt anyone could resist not to take a snapshot of the cover image of our protagonist expertly drawn by David Aja.
Hopefully this series expands quite a bit to explain why the immortals are still holding grudges against each other and if the scientific/research element will still maintain a presence of sort.
July 25, 2019
I got a free look at this comic in exchange for a review.
The Forgotten Queen started out promising. Vexana is an immortal who incites bloodlust wherever she goes--which includes into the camps of many famous bloodthirsty historical figures. Her romp through history and her brief love affair with another strong woman were a fun ride, delivered in a highly detailed, colorfully gristly art style.
The end of the graphic novel got extremely confusing, however. (SPOILERS AHEAD!) It turns out, Vexana is a character designed to tie in to the rest of the Valiant comic universe, which I know nothing about. She is the little sibling of some (apparently?) major characters. I only discovered this through reading other reviews. As someone totally outside the Valiant universe, I found the sudden shift to focus on the siblings delivered via a very flatly delivered backstory simply confusing and off-putting.
I don't regret reading this, but what looked like a wonderful standalone series in the vein of Wicked and Divine turned out to be tied into another universe I know nothing about. I don't see myself continuing.
The Forgotten Queen started out promising. Vexana is an immortal who incites bloodlust wherever she goes--which includes into the camps of many famous bloodthirsty historical figures. Her romp through history and her brief love affair with another strong woman were a fun ride, delivered in a highly detailed, colorfully gristly art style.
The end of the graphic novel got extremely confusing, however. (SPOILERS AHEAD!) It turns out, Vexana is a character designed to tie in to the rest of the Valiant comic universe, which I know nothing about. She is the little sibling of some (apparently?) major characters. I only discovered this through reading other reviews. As someone totally outside the Valiant universe, I found the sudden shift to focus on the siblings delivered via a very flatly delivered backstory simply confusing and off-putting.
I don't regret reading this, but what looked like a wonderful standalone series in the vein of Wicked and Divine turned out to be tied into another universe I know nothing about. I don't see myself continuing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2019
3.5 stars.
The artstyle was amazing especially the cover art for each chapter though there are some facial expressions that looked a bit off.
The concept of the story was interesting but I felt like the execution wasn't the best. It wasn't bad but it jumped around a lot and I found it silly that Vexana and Sarnai just trades off stories about Vexana herself. I found it a bit awkward to be the one telling your story to someone who knows a lot already.
For Vexana's character, it felt flat and two dimensional. She felt superficial and her character is cliche . Her so called "love" happened so quickly with barely any emotions and she expects her love interest to love her wholly over one night. She's supposed to be someone strong but there are times where she's thrown around so easily.
Overall, the story seems interesting enough for me to continue. I read from another review that this is connected to another comic series so I'll go read that one before continuing whenever the next installment comes.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
The artstyle was amazing especially the cover art for each chapter though there are some facial expressions that looked a bit off.
The concept of the story was interesting but I felt like the execution wasn't the best. It wasn't bad but it jumped around a lot and I found it silly that Vexana and Sarnai just trades off stories about Vexana herself. I found it a bit awkward to be the one telling your story to someone who knows a lot already.
For Vexana's character, it felt flat and two dimensional. She felt superficial and her character is cliche . Her so called "love" happened so quickly with barely any emotions and she expects her love interest to love her wholly over one night. She's supposed to be someone strong but there are times where she's thrown around so easily.
Overall, the story seems interesting enough for me to continue. I read from another review that this is connected to another comic series so I'll go read that one before continuing whenever the next installment comes.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
July 13, 2019
While the artwork in this is stunning, the story is basically a butt-load of gratuitous violence trying to pass itself off as some kind of non-specific mythology.
The titular Forgotten Queen is Vexana, an ancient immortal with the power to incite violence in any living thing. The timeline jumps around in history, showing us Genghis Khan and Vlad the Impaler as well as more modern and far more ancient times.
The story gets confusing though when it tries to explain how Vexana got her powers... she had some brothers and they opened... a thing... that killed everyone except them but maybe it did and maybe it gave them their powers but maybe it only awakened dormant powers? Not super clear here.
Also, it's kind of distracting that Vexana's clothes seems to magically appear or change from one panel to the next with no explanation whatsoever (at one point she goes from wearing a sort of bikini to full-on leather biker chaps and vest in literally one panel for some reason?).
It ends up being an unsatisfying and muddled bit of a mess.
The titular Forgotten Queen is Vexana, an ancient immortal with the power to incite violence in any living thing. The timeline jumps around in history, showing us Genghis Khan and Vlad the Impaler as well as more modern and far more ancient times.
The story gets confusing though when it tries to explain how Vexana got her powers... she had some brothers and they opened... a thing... that killed everyone except them but maybe it did and maybe it gave them their powers but maybe it only awakened dormant powers? Not super clear here.
Also, it's kind of distracting that Vexana's clothes seems to magically appear or change from one panel to the next with no explanation whatsoever (at one point she goes from wearing a sort of bikini to full-on leather biker chaps and vest in literally one panel for some reason?).
It ends up being an unsatisfying and muddled bit of a mess.
July 24, 2019
The Warmonger is an interesting character when looking at things from a trade. It annoys me a little to see how moods change in a few pages. At the same time, in that same chapter you realize how Vexana's powers are sometimes beyond her control. She's anachronistic, does things her way, but ultimately she's lonely. She wants to share her ruthlessness with someone, hence her preference for powerful warlords like Genghis Khan. Unfortunately, their desire for unity is what drives wedges between them and Vexana. Even Vexana has enough of people who want her to sow chaos for them.
The Valiant universe has plenty of immortals and its only natural Vexana clashes with the Eternal Warrior. It also shows a deeper understanding on how the actions of the Anni-Prada brothers affect the people around them. Gilad doesn't even try to open up to her, seeing her as just some savage.
It ends up being a little short but it also opens up more possibilities to come.
The Valiant universe has plenty of immortals and its only natural Vexana clashes with the Eternal Warrior. It also shows a deeper understanding on how the actions of the Anni-Prada brothers affect the people around them. Gilad doesn't even try to open up to her, seeing her as just some savage.
It ends up being a little short but it also opens up more possibilities to come.
September 15, 2019
'The Forgotten Queen' by Tini Howard with art by Amilcar Pinna is about an oceanography expedition that finds something really unusual.
A group of divers uncovers something in the ocean and unleashes an immortal being named Vexana on the world. Vexana has a history of showing up and creating chaos and bloodshed. She seems to crave the bloodshed. She has other appetites as well. It also turns out that releasing her was no accident, but was planned.
I'm not sure what the plan was here, but it was pretty mediocre. There is a big reveal at the end that I saw coming a mile away. I thought the art was better than some of the other reviewers of the title, but overall, I found this story to be lurid and tepid at the same time.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Valiant Entertainment, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
A group of divers uncovers something in the ocean and unleashes an immortal being named Vexana on the world. Vexana has a history of showing up and creating chaos and bloodshed. She seems to crave the bloodshed. She has other appetites as well. It also turns out that releasing her was no accident, but was planned.
I'm not sure what the plan was here, but it was pretty mediocre. There is a big reveal at the end that I saw coming a mile away. I thought the art was better than some of the other reviewers of the title, but overall, I found this story to be lurid and tepid at the same time.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Valiant Entertainment, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
July 22, 2019
A slightly ropey mix of fantasy, with a goddess of war marching around making sure Genghis Khan's soldiers all kill each other, and modern era story, with scientists fishing in the depths of the seas for her magical armour. Artwork isn't exactly the best at letting us see what's what at times, and the habit of hiding the cussing is just childish, but it's not too bad all told. Certainly the flashback half of the story takes it in different directions to those you'd expect – it's just the cheesy resurrection side of things that is naff. "I'm gonna gets me a war goddess!" "Why?" "Er… can I tell you next volume?" Two and a half stars.
August 27, 2019
The Forgotten Queen provides loads of everything I could want in a great comic. A badass, immortal female protagonist who kicks ass and takes names every step of the way. An action-packed narrative that never quits flying toward a surprising conclusion. A fascinating combination of historical fact and fiction, coalescing in a brilliant alternate history. A past and present narrative that provides a far-reaching story. All of it works together to create this incredibly entertaining look at a figure whose very presence alters the minds of humanity.
NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
July 23, 2019
The censoring of swearing was really annoying. Either swear or don't.
Jumping between the two stories was jarring at first but by the 2nd issue it found its flow.
The art goes downhill at the 3rd issue.
Did the author and artist stop talking to each other?
What's the boon? Did I miss an issue?
Muh, should have stopped at the 1st issue.
ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Jumping between the two stories was jarring at first but by the 2nd issue it found its flow.
The art goes downhill at the 3rd issue.
Did the author and artist stop talking to each other?
What's the boon? Did I miss an issue?
Muh, should have stopped at the 1st issue.
ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2019
Thanks NetGalley for providing this ARC, in exchange for an honest review. OK, so the artwork alone makes this one worth the purchase, but then you get a kick ass story to go with? Uh, YES PLEASE! I love a good female lead, and let me tell you Vexana is LEADING, mostly death raids, but leading none-the-less. I was disappointed at the end of this, nothing wrong with the story, just wanted more. I truly enjoyed this one and we are ordering our copy today!
April 27, 2022
(3,2 of 5 for a short story with a nice idea but dull execution)
Reading this I had the same feeling reading accidentally some YOung Animal DC's stuff. Except there is blood and violence (which is maybe part of the story but it feels complete unnecessary). Thanks to its 4-issue length I managed to finish it. If it would be longer series I would quit after the second issue. Which is not common with me. Despite a good idea of immortal, the execution is terrible - bland, boring, overexplaining, stiff and somehow weirdly annoying. I'm happy for every great female comic writer, but Tini Howard is not the case.
The art is sadly the "generic style", so it didn't help to keep the comics in my mind. Thus it just went in and out like foul oysters. And I hate even good oysters...
I do not recommend it to anybody.
Reading this I had the same feeling reading accidentally some YOung Animal DC's stuff. Except there is blood and violence (which is maybe part of the story but it feels complete unnecessary). Thanks to its 4-issue length I managed to finish it. If it would be longer series I would quit after the second issue. Which is not common with me. Despite a good idea of immortal, the execution is terrible - bland, boring, overexplaining, stiff and somehow weirdly annoying. I'm happy for every great female comic writer, but Tini Howard is not the case.
The art is sadly the "generic style", so it didn't help to keep the comics in my mind. Thus it just went in and out like foul oysters. And I hate even good oysters...
I do not recommend it to anybody.
July 9, 2019
I'm giving this 3 stars, although I think that the artwork deserves a 5 star rating. The story was interesting, but it did jump around a lot. My main complaint is with the characters, especially Vexana, who is really two dimensional. Overall, it was good enough read that I'll probably check out more, but it's not going to go onto my favorites list.
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